Jeffrey X. Watt, Herman Frederic Lieber memorial award

Jeffrey X. Watt Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences Department of Mathematical Sciences School of Science IUPUI

Interim President Gerald Bepko, Watt and IUPUI Acting Chancellor William Plater at the Founders Day ceremony

Enroll in one of Jeffrey Watt’s math classes, and there’s a good chance you’ll hear this quote sometime during the semester. Universities are packed with people who fear jumping into the sea of mathematics, but thanks to Watt, many of those students discover hidden abilities and are able to succeed in a subject that previously had brought only difficulty and failure.

In his approach to teaching, Watt rejects the idea of presenting math as an external entity independent of the students’ thoughts and actions, because such an approach would allow them to remain passive observers in the learning process. Instead, he makes math a real part of their lives, so that they can become engaged in the development of knowledge. His technique is to coach his students to focus on analytical problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Watt has devoted much of his energy to making math accessible to non-science majors. By creating a “kinder and gentler” method of instruction, he helps students overcome math anxiety and achieve success. In recognition of his achievements, Watt was given IUPUI’s most prestigious teaching award in 1999, the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. This was followed by the IUPUI School of Science Teaching Award in 2001 and by election to the university-wide IU Faculty Colloquium on Excellence in Teaching in 2002.

Watt has contributed enormously to restructuring the developmental mathematics program, improving placement tests, supervising instructors, developing interactive math software and supporting math programs in local high schools.

His students thank him. Michael Etchison never enrolled in any of Watt’s classes, but discovered him instead through a cable television program originating from IUPUI. Watt was “the first person who ever succeeded in making mathematics understandable—and through the medium of television!” Etchison said. “My subscription to cable was the best money I ever spent.”

Scared of mathematics? Have a fear of problem solving? Jump in, the water’s fine.